Gregorio Denies Role in Casa Grande Arson

Everardo Gregorio, 30, has been arrested in connection with an arson attack on the Khal Chasidim Jewish Community Center in Casa Grande, Arizona, on March 3, 2025, which caused significant damage to the newly renovated center and a kosher grocery store. Surveillance footage reportedly showed Gregorio circling the building multiple times before the fire started, leading to his arrest, though he has denied involvement, claiming he was asleep during the incident. This follows another case where Assadollah Hashemi pleaded guilty to setting fire outside a Jewish museum in Maryland in 2024, citing drug influence and mental health issues. Despite the destruction, community members expressed resilience, highlighting their faith and the miraculous preservation of sacred items. Gregorio has been booked on charges of arson of an occupied structure, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for March 14. The investigation into the Casa Grande fire is ongoing, and police have not established a motive for the alleged arson.